Greetings, firstly I'd like to add that I am new here. It all began a few months ago and basically have not been feeling well ever since. One half of my mind is telling me I can pinpoint my problems down to Anxiety and the other half is convinced I have something seriously wrong with me. I won't list all the symptoms I am suffering but what I am after is some advice. What steps should I take to rule out any other possible conditions/diseases. I am currently thinking about seeing a Neurologist but continue to find myself too scared - all I can think about is what could be wrong with me.

Where would you start? Does anybody know the finer details of Neurologists such as costs etc..?

I didn't list them as it is all the general symptoms of anxiety disorder but if you insist... Normally worse in the morning.. lack of energy and motivation, chronic fatigue, occasional headache, feel as though I no longer enjoy the tasks I used to love, feel as though all i want to do is get home and stay inside as soon as I get to work. Lots more minor things - as I said above all common with anxiety/depression.

I dread everything from CFS to Brain tumour, cancers, MS, Lyme Disease, depression. Quite a mess at the moment really.

I’m sorry you are going through such a bad time right now. I was checking here at this forum because my daughters have had anxiety and panic attacks due to Lyme Disease. I, too, went through the anxiety brought on by Lyme Disease and I had other symptoms that were exacerbated by misdiagnosis. I was told it was all due to stress, or that I might have chronic fatigue or fibromyalgia. . I never before would have imagined that bacteria could cause such extreme anxiety. But I saw first hand, when my daughter came off the antibiotic treatment too early, her anxiety returned. And now with additional treatment, she is care-free like before her illness.

I’m bringing this up to you because some physicians are unaware that Lyme Disease can cause anxiety and do not test for it. They’d rather treat the symptoms. I would have never known if a friend had not told me. I was taking my daughter to counseling and she was analyzed up and down. We thought we had found all the reasons for her anxiety (worrying about me because I was chronically ill, etc.). She met all of the goals set by her therapist and still did not feel well. When I told the therapist that we thought my daughter’s symptoms could be do to lyme, the counselor said that she had no idea that anxiety was a symptom of Lyme Disease! This was a large practice and I wonder how many others weren’t diagnosed because we live in a lyme endemic area.

I went through all of the fear that you are experiencing while I was trying to find an answer. As far as trying to get diagnosed, it can be difficult, because most doctors aren’t very knowledgeable and the local lab tests are inaccurate. You really should be tested by a lyme literate doctor. There is a lot of information under the Healingwell lyme forum. For more info on lyme disease, you can check out the following link:

Don’t be afraid of looking for answers, for with knowledge comes power, and Lyme Disease is treatable. It can be very frustrating trying to find the answers. I wish for better days ahead for you. For now, just take it day by day, cry when you need to then turn on a show that makes you laugh and helps you see the lighter side of life.

I understand the worry that you have about not knowing what is wrong. I was told by my doctor that my lyme test was negative, so I, too, worried about having those other illnesses.

Do you have someone you trust that you can talk to about these feelings?

Please ask for help. You may need anti-anxiety medicine to help you get through this.

I know that I suffered a lot longer because of my pride. I didn’t want anyone to know how sick I really was. By talking to others, I found a doctor who truly listened and helped me, and a good therapist to help my child with anxiety.

I've had PD for a long time and have had lots and lots of tests. I was tested for Lyme disease cause my doc thought my symptoms were a lot like it, but my results came back negative. Even though I've had many tests, I'm convinced that I've had lymphoma for the last 7 years, and not even my docs can talk me out of it.

Hi RGLZ, welcome to HealingWell. So glad that you found us. You will love the group and it looks like you've already gotten some great advice. I would start with a cognitive behavioral therapist and tackle the list of your symptoms and the resultant anxiety you have. Working on it this way might reduce some of the anxiety and it might also eliminate some of your fears. Of course, you should go to your general doctor and get a physical and talk to them too and get a referral to a neurologist and go from there. Don't be scared. Most of what we worry about never happens. Have a good friend go with you if you can. If you do not have one, just know that many have walked through the doors feeling the way you do so you are not alone. Take care.